Multi-purpose container

ABSTRACT

A container and a hand weight, that container may include a housing that comprises a handle and end weights that are connected to opposite sides of a handle; and at least one dispensing unit configured to selectively dispense content from the housing.

BACKGROUND

Hand weights are one of the most popular types of training equipment. Avery popular type of hand weights is referred to as a dumbbell andincludes two end weights that are connected to opposite sides of ahandle.

US patent application 2003/083179 illustrates a weight lifting plate isprovided with a pair of diametrically opposed hand grips on each side ofthe plate, each hand grip formed by recessed surfaces in each sidesurface of the plate and a portion of the side surface which togetherprovide a hand grip, such that the weight plate can be grabbed andlifted from either side thereof while the plate is resting against aflat surface such as the floor or against another adjacent weight plate.

US patent application 2007/0155599 illustrates a dumbbell assemblies andmethods of making and using dumbbell assemblies are disclosed. Thedumbbell assembly includes a dumbbell and a strap. The dumbbell includesa handle, a first end weight, and a second end weight. The strapincludes a central band, a first coupling portion, and a second couplingportion. The first coupling portion is elastically secured about thefirst end weight and the second coupling portion is elastically securedabout the second end weight.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,694,231 illustrates a hand weight device for providing aphysically stable but variable resistance to gravity includes a handlecoupled to a housing. A first end cap is movably coupled to the housingto selectively provide access to an interior space through a first endof the housing. Weights are positionable in the interior space toincrease gravitational resistance to lifting of the housing. Spacers arepositionable in the interior space to occupy a remainder of the interiorspace after a selected number of weights is positioned in the interiorspace. Thus, the selected number of the weights positioned in theinterior space is inhibited from moving freely within the interiorspace.

Yet another type of training equipment is a protein supplement beverageshaker. The protein supplement beverage shaker and the hand weight aredifferent types of training equipment that are not related to eachother.

US patent application 2006/255035 illustrates an example of a beverageshaker that consists of an insulated container which is configured tohold the ingredients for protein supplement drinks. The shaker permitsmanual mixing by shaking to and from and retains any large pieces of theremaining ice within the container. The shaker has a removable topmember that is attached to the container which includes a smoothperipheral lip surrounding the container suitable for drinking. Astrainer is supported internally by the top member and is configured forholding back large sized pieces of ice. A lid internally interfaces withthe top member in a leak proof manner permitting protein supplementdrink ingredients to be mixed and consumed directly from the shaker whenthe lid is removed.

There is a growing need to provide a reusable training equipment andmethod.

SUMMARY

There may be provided a container and hand weight and a method for usinga container and hand weight.

There may be provided a container and a hand weight that may include ahousing that may include a handle and end weights that may be connectedto opposite sides of a handle; and at least one dispensing unitconfigured to selectively dispense content from the housing.

The container and hand weight may include a protein powder that at leastpartially fills the housing.

The at least one dispensing unit may be multiple dispensing units.

The multiple dispensing units may be located at opposite sides of thehousing.

The multiple dispensing units may be perpendicular to each other.

A dispensing unit of the multiple dispensing units may be located withinan inner space formed within one of the end weights.

The housing may include multiple compartments.

Each compartment may be fluidly coupled to a unique dispensing unit.

The multiple compartments may be of a same volume.

Two compartments of the multiple compartments differ from each other byat least one of volume, shape and size.

There may be provided a method for utilizing a container and handweight, the method may include receiving a container and a hand weightthat may be filled with powder for preparing a drink; wherein thecontainer and hand weight may include (i) a housing that may include ahandle and end weights that may be connected to opposite sides of ahandle; and (ii) at least one dispensing unit configured to selectivelydispense content from the housing; consuming the substance until thecontainer and hand weight may be free from the substance; filling thecontainer and hand weight with fluid; closing the dispensing unit toprovide a hand weight; and using the container and hand weight as a handweight.

The at least one dispensing unit may be multiple dispensing units.

The multiple dispensing units may be located at opposite sides of thehousing.

The multiple dispensing units may be perpendicular to each other.

A dispensing unit of the multiple dispensing units may be located withinan inner space formed within one of the end weights.

The housing may include multiple compartments.

Each compartment may be fluidly coupled to a unique dispensing unit.

The multiple compartments may be of a same volume.

Two compartments of the multiple compartments differ from each other byat least one of volume, shape and size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the disclosure will be understood and appreciatedmore fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a method for using a container and ahand weight; and

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate examples of a container and hand weight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Any reference in the specification to a method should be applied mutatismutandis to a device or system capable of executing the method.

Any reference in the specification to a system or device should beapplied mutatis mutandis to a method that may be executed by the system.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a method 10 for using a container and ahand weight.

The container and a hand weight may include a dispensing unit and ahousing. The housing may be shaped as a hand weight—it may include ahandle or other intermediate elements and two end weights that areconnected to opposite sides of a handle.

The dispensing unit may be used to output substance, for inputtingliquid, and the like.

Method 10 may start by step 12 of receiving a container and a handweight that is filled with substance such as a powder or otherpowder-like material for preparing a drink.

For example—step 12 may include providing a container and a hand weightthat is filled with protein powder, any other nutritious powder, or anytype of powder that can be mixed with liquid to provide a drink.

The container and a hand weight may be completely filled with thesubstance or only partially filled with substance.

The dispensing unit can be a selectively open aperture that may beselectively open, closed or partially open—to enable an output of thesubstance from the container and a hand weight.

For example—the dispensing unit may be a removable cover that onceopened exposes the substance to the exterior of the substance dispensingunit. The removable cover may be moved by rotation, elevation, or anyother movement.

The dispensing unit, when closed may be sealed.

The dispensing unit can be placed anywhere in the container and a handweight—preferably not at the handle. It may be positioned, for example,on top of one of the end weights—while the other end weight serves as abasis of the container and a hand weight.

There may be multiple dispensing units. For example—there may beprovided two dispending elements that are located at opposite parts ofthe container.

One dispensing unit may be for solid substance and another for liquid.

Step 12 may be followed by step 14 of consuming the substance—forexample until the container and a hand weight is free from thesubstance.

Step 14 may be followed by step 16 of filling the container and a handweight with fluid (for example—water) and closing the dispensingunit—thereby providing a hand weight.

The container may be filled with solid substance—that may differ fromthe substance used for preparing the drink.

Step 16 may be followed by step 18 of using the container and a handweight as a hand weight.

The method provides a container and a hand weight that can be used as acontainer and then as a hand weight—thus reusing the empty container.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of one of more containers and hand weights30.

Container and hand weight 30 includes a housing 31 that is shaped as ahand weight—and includes handle 32 and two end weights 33 and 34 thatare connected to opposite sides of a handle. It also includes adispensing unit 35.

The container and a hand weight may be completely filled with thesubstance or only partially filled with substance.

The dispensing unit can be a selectively open aperture that may beselectively open, closed or partially open—to enable an output of thesubstance from the container and a hand weight.

For example—the dispensing unit may be a removable cover that onceopened exposes the substance to the exterior of the substance dispensingunit. The removable cover may be moved by rotation, elevation, or anyother movement.

The dispensing unit, when closed may be sealed.

The dispensing unit can be placed anywhere in the container and a handweight—preferably not at the handle. It may be positioned, for example,on top of one of the end weights—while the other end weight serves as abasis of the container and a hand weight.

There may be multiple dispensing units. For example—there may beprovided two dispending elements that are located at the same side or ondifferent sides of the container.

One dispensing unit may be for solid substance and another for liquid.This may require the container to include separate compartments—forexample one for solid substance and the other for liquid.

There may be multiple dispensing units and multiplecompartments—regardless to substance or material stored in thecontainer.

The dispensing unit may extend outside the end weight—see for exampleFIG. 2—dispensing unit 35 extends outside end weight 33. This is notnecessarily so—and the dispensing unit 35 may be positioned in an“non-extending” position—within a space or cavity within the end weight33—so that it does not extend outside the end weight. Such a“non-extending” position may be used when the container and hand weight30 has a single dispensing unit. The “non-extending” position may alsobe applicable when there are multiple dispensing units—for example—oneper each end weight. When there are two dispensing units for two endweights—one may extend outside and the other may be in the“non-extending” position—or both may be in the “non-extending” position.Positioning the dispensing unit in a “non-extending” position—allows theend weights that surrounds that dispensing unit to serve as a base ofthe container and hand weight 30.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate various examples of containers and handweights 30 that include multiple dispensing units 35 and 37. Dispensingunits illustrated in dashed lines are in a “non-extending” position andare located within inner spaces (also illustrated as dashed lines) suchas 36 and 38. The dispensing units may be located one or more of the twoend weights 33 and 34. A dispending unit can be parallel to the handle,normal to the handle or at any angle. There may be more than twodispensing units.

The container and hand weight 30 may include two or morecompartments—that may be of the same size, the same shape, differentsizes or different shapes. A separator between the two or morecompartments may be linear, non-linear, vertical, horizontal, sloped,and the like. FIG. 4 illustrates two compartments 41 and 42 formedwithin the container and hand weight 30 and a separator 40 between thecompartments. The separator may be located anywhere within the containerand hand weight 30 and may be of different orientation (non-horizontal)and shape (non-linear).

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The inventionshould therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment,method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within thescope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will,however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be madetherein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

Any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality may be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that boundariesbetween the above described operations merely illustrative. The multipleoperations may be combined into a single operation, a single operationmay be distributed in additional operations and operations may beexecuted at least partially overlapping in time. Moreover, alternativeembodiments may include multiple instances of a particular operation,and the order of operations may be altered in various other embodiments.

However, other modifications, variations and alternatives are alsopossible. The specifications and drawings are, accordingly, to beregarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other elements orsteps then those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the terms “a” or “an,”as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. Also, the use ofintroductory phrases such as “at least one” and “one or more” in theclaims should not be construed to imply that the introduction of anotherclaim element by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits anyparticular claim containing such introduced claim element to inventionscontaining only one such element, even when the same claim includes theintroductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinitearticles such as “a” or “an.” The same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles. Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and“second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements suchterms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended toindicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements. The merefact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims doesnot indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used toadvantage.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is,therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spiritof the invention.

It is appreciated that various features of the embodiments of thedisclosure which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separateembodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment.Conversely, various features of the embodiments of the disclosure whichare, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment mayalso be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that theembodiments of the disclosure are not limited by what has beenparticularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of theembodiments of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims andequivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container and a hand weight, comprising: ahousing that comprises a handle and end weights that are connected toopposite sides of a handle; and at least one dispensing unit configuredto selectively dispense content from the housing.
 2. The container andhand weight according to claim 1 comprising a protein powder that atleast partially fills the housing.
 3. The container and hand weightaccording to claim 1 wherein the at least one dispensing unit ismultiple dispensing units.
 4. The container and hand weight according toclaim 3 wherein the multiple dispensing units are located at oppositesides of the housing.
 5. The container and hand weight according toclaim 3 wherein the multiple dispensing units are perpendicular to eachother.
 6. The container and hand weight according to claim 3 wherein adispensing unit of the multiple dispensing units is located within aninner space formed within one of the end weights.
 7. The container andhand weight according to claim 3 wherein the housing comprises multiplecompartments.
 8. The container and hand weight according to claim 7wherein each compartment is fluidly coupled to a unique dispensing unit.9. The container and hand weight according to claim 7 wherein themultiple compartments are of a same volume.
 10. The container and handweight according to claim 7 wherein two compartments of the multiplecompartments differ from each other by at least one of volume, shape andsize.
 11. A method for utilizing a container and hand weight, the methodcomprises: receiving a container and a hand weight that is filled withpowder for preparing a drink; wherein the container and hand weightcomprises (i) a housing that comprises a handle and end weights that areconnected to opposite sides of a handle; and (ii) at least onedispensing unit configured to selectively dispense content from thehousing; consuming the substance until the container and hand weight isfree from the substance; filling the container and hand weight withfluid; closing the dispensing unit to provide a hand weight; and usingthe container and hand weight as a hand weight.
 12. The method accordingto claim 11 wherein the at least one dispensing unit is multipledispensing units.
 13. The method according to claim 12 wherein themultiple dispensing units are located at opposite sides of the housing.14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the multiple dispensingunits are perpendicular to each other.
 15. The method according to claim12 wherein a dispensing unit of the multiple dispensing units is locatedwithin an inner space formed within one of the end weights.
 16. Themethod according to claim 12 wherein the housing comprises multiplecompartments.
 17. The method according to claim 16 wherein eachcompartment is fluidly coupled to a unique dispensing unit.
 18. Themethod according to claim 16 wherein the multiple compartments are of asame volume.
 19. The method according to claim 16 wherein twocompartments of the multiple compartments differ from each other by atleast one of volume, shape and size.